Pressure balanced fluid pressure connector



Aug. 30, 1960 E. A. ANDERSON PRESSURE BALANCED FLUID PRESSURE CONNECTOR2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1958 w MW 5 Q 2 4 7 z 1 y 3 WNW 2/, I I 4M 7 a a x 0 7 w 3 a Zg fi i Tw L a v a INVENTOR fpw/A/ A; AwotiesoA/ MJag ATTORNEY Aug. 36, 1960 E. A. ANDERSON PRESSURE BALANCED FLUIDPRESSURE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1958 ATTORNEY PRESSUREBALANCED FLUID PRESSURE CONNECTOR Edwin A. Anderson, 1104 Chimney RockRoad, Houston, Tex.

Filed May '19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,034

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-148) This invention relates to fluid pressureconnections and more particularly to a quick detachable pressurebalanced fluid pressure connector primarily intended for use withoil orgas well equipment, but which may well be utilized wherever it isdesired to provide a quick detachable fluid pressure connection. Forconvenience, the device of this invention will be described inconnection with gas and oil well equipment, but it is to be understood,that the same may be utilized for connecting a flu-id pressure source toa suitable fluid pressure device.

In connection with the gas and oil wells it is frequently desirable toascertain the fluid pressure present in such wells and heretofore it hasbeen customary to either install a fluid pressure gauge on the Christmastree of each Well from which a pressure reading may be taken or toconnect a pressure gauge to the Christmas tree when it is desired toascertain the pressure in the well. Where pressure gauges have beenpermanently installed, this represents a very considerable investmentand furthermore, since pressure gauges are relatively delicate, exposureto the elements often damages the same and like wise the same have beenfrequently damaged, either intentionally or unintentionally by companyor other personnel. Heretofore, the attaching of a pressure gauge toeach well in order to ascertain the pressure therein has been arelatively difiicult and time consuming experience, particularly in viewof the relatively high fluid pressures involved and since it may bedesired to ascertain the pressure in a large number of wells within arelatively short time, it would be highly advantageous to provide aquick detachable connection which would permit attachment and removal ofthe pressure gauge within a matter of minutes and at the same time,providing safeguards against damage to the equipment or personnel due tothe relatively high fluid pressures involved.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a quickdetachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector primarily designedfor use on the Christmas trees of gas or oil wells.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachablebalanced fluid pressure connector for use on the Christmas trees of gasor oil wells and in which one element of the connector is permanentlyinstalled on the Christmas tree and in which the other element carryinga fluid pressure gauge is merely slipped into and removed from theelement on the Christmas tree.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a quickdetachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector including twoelements, one of which is permanently attached to the Christmas tree ofa gas or oil well and the other element of which may be convenientlyinserted into and removed from the first element to perrnit a pressurereading to be taken, the second element being held in place during suchreading by a balanced pressure connection which prevents inadvertentseparation of the elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a States PatenPatented Aug. 30, 1960 quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressureconnector in which means is provided for relieving pressure in apressure gauge and one element of the connector prior to separation ofsuch element from the other element of the connector.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachablepressure balanced fluid pressure connector including two elements, oneof which is attached to the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well and theother of which is removably received in the first element, theconnection between the two elements being. merely a sliding fit therebyeliminating the use of tools in making the connection and alsoeliminating the need for any particular manipulation of one element withrespect to the other in order to establish the proper connectiontherebetween.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a quickdetachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector including twoelements, one of which is attached to a fluid pressure source and theother carrying 'a pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device, oneelement being merely plugged in to the other to effect a connectiontherebetween, this operation requiring noparticular manual dexterity ofthe use of tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a conventionalChristmas tree for gas or oil wells and with the connector of thisinvention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the connector ofthis invention and the manner of attaching the same to a control valve,as well as the manner of attaching the fluid pressure gauge or otherfluid pressure device thereto;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of oneelement of the connector of this invention;

Fig. 4 a sectional view showing a combination valve and one element ofthe connector of this invention;

Fig. 5 a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a somewhatmodified form of valve and one element of the connector; and

Fig. 6 an exploded view with parts in section for greater clarity andshowing a modified form of the quick detachable pressure balanced fluidconnector of this invention.

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly Figs. 1 and 2,there is shown a well casing 10 projecting upwardly above ground level11 provided with a cap 12 at the .upper end and with the usual conduitsi3, 14, 15 and 16 connected thereto for withdrawing oil or gas and insome instances, for introducing fluids into the well. This is the moreor less conventional Christmas tree utilized on gas or oil wells and thestructure shown is by way of illustration only, it being understood thatvarious types and sizes of Christmas trees may be utilized of these. Asshown, the conduit 14 is provided with a valve 17 for controlling flowthrough the conduit 14 and in a similar manner, the conduit 16 isprovided with a valve 18 having a manually operable hand wheel 19thereon for controlling operation of the valve. The valve 18 may be ofany suitable construction, but for purposes of illustration, such valveis shown in Fig. 2 as comprising a body 24 threadedly attached to theconduit 16 as at 21, there being a valve stem 22 engageable with a valveseat 23 in the body 20 to close or open a passage 24 leading to athreaded outlet connection 25 on the body 20. A conventional packing nut26 surrounds the valve stem 22 and is threadedly engaged with the body3. and the hand wheel 19 is mounted on the valve stem 22 in order tooperate the same and engage or disengage the inner end of the valve stem22 with the valve seat 23 in the body 20.

The pressure balanced fluid pressure connector of this invention maywell comprise a first connector element 7 and a second connector element28. The structure of these two elements is best shown in Fig. 2 and thefirst connector element 27 may Well comprise a body portion 29 of anysuitable size and configuration provided with a straight cylindricalbore 30 extending therethrough to opposite sides of the body portion. Afluid pressure passage 31, co-planar with and transverse to bore 30,communicates with the bore 30 substantially midway of the length thereofand the outer end of the passage 31 may be closed by a conventionalscrew plug 32. The body 29 of the first element 27 may be provided witha nipple 33 projecting therefrom in oifset relation to the bore 39 andthe nipple 33 serves to screw threadedly engage the outlet opening inthe body 26 of the valve 18 to attach the first element 27 thereto. Afluid pressure passage 34 in the nipple 33 communicates with the passage31 and also with the passage 24 in the body 20 of the valve 18. a

The second connector element 28 may well comprise a body 35 of anysuitable size and configuration, which is provided with a reducedcylindrical extension 36 of a diameter to slidably engage in the bore ofthe first connector element 27. A shoulder 37 is provided at thejuncture of the extension 36 and the body of the second element 28 inorder to engage the upper surface 38 of the first element 27 to limitmovement of the extension 36 into the bore 30 and to accurately positionthe same therein. The extension 36 on the second element 28 is providedwith an annular groove 39 which is in alignment with the passage 31 inthe body 29 of the first element 27 when the extension 36 is positionedin the bore 30 and the shoulder 37 is in engagement with the uppersurface 38 of the first element 27 and a transverse passage 40 isprovided in the extension 36 which passage 40 communicates with theannular groove 39.

A packing receiving groove 41 is provided in the extension 36 at oneside of the annular groove 39 and an O-ring of suitable packing material42 is disposed in the groove 41. In a similar manner, a packingreceiving groove 43 is provided in the extension 36 at the opposite sideof the annular groove 39 and received in the groove 43 is an O-ring 44of suitable packing material.

A threaded bore 45 is provided in the body 35 of the second connectorelement 28 to facilitate connection of a fluid pressure device, such asa pressure gauge 46 thereto, but, of course, any other suitable fluidpressure device could also be connected to the threaded bore 45. Anaxial passage 47 in the body 35 of the second connector element 28communicates with the transverse passage 46 and the threaded bore 45.

A transverse bore 48 may be provided in the body 35 of the secondelement 28, the bore 48 communicating with the axial passage 47 andextending from one side of the body 35 to the other. The bore 48 may beprovided with a shoulder 49 for retaining a valve seat 50 in place and avalve stem 51 may be provided with screw threads 52 threadedly engagedin the transverse bore 48 for permitting adjustment of the valve stem 51to bring the inner end 53 into or out of engagement with the valve seat50. Suitable packing means in the form of an O-ring 54 may be providedon the valve stem 51 and also finger engaging means 55 may be providedthereon to permit convenient manual manipulation.

In the operation of the above described form of the invention, it isassumed that the valve 18 is closed with the valve stem 22 engaging theseat 23 whereupon the extension 36 of the second connector element 28may be inserted in the bore 30 of the first connector element 27 untilthe shoulder 37 engages the upper surface 38 of the body 29 of the firstelement 27 whereupon the transverse passage 40 will be in alignment withthe passage 31 in the first connector element 27. It is also assumed,that the inner end 53 of the valve stem 51 in the second connectorelement 28 is in engagement with the seat 50 thereby preventing flow offluid pressure from the transverse bore 48 through the outlet or ventopening 56 in the second connector element 23. Upon opening the valve18, fluid pressure will flow from the conduit 3.6 through the passage 24in the valve 18 and then through the passages 34 and 31 in the firstconnector element 27 to the transverse passage 40 in the extension 36 ofthe second connector element 28. Since equal pressure is exerted on theO-rings 42 and 44 positioned on opposite sides of the transverse passage40 in the extension 36, there will be no pressure tending to force theextension 36 out of the bore 30 in the first connector element 27.Consequently, fluid pressure from the conduit 16 will be transmitted asset forth above, and also through the axial passage 47 in the secondconnector element 28 to the pressure gauge 46 or other fluid pressuredevice connected to the second connector element 28. Upon noting thefluid pressure reading on the gauge 46, or upon completion of the use ofthe fluid pressure device connected to the second connector element 28,the valve 18 will be closed and the valve stem 51 operated to move theinner end 53 out of engagement with the valve seat 50 thereby openingcommunication between the axial passage 47 in the second connectorelement 28 and the vent opening 56 to relieve pressure in the connectorelement 28 and the gauge 46 or other fluid pressure device and aftersuch fluid pressure has been relieved, the second connector element 28may be conveniently removed from the first connector element 27 merelyby an upward pull thereon.

It will, therefore, be seen that by the above described invention therehas been provided a simple and convenient means by which a pressuregauge or other fluid pressure device may be conveniently attached to orremoved from the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well in order toascertain the pressure therein and furthermore, only a simple manualmanipulation is required for this operation and regardless of themagnitude of the fluid pressure involved, there is no danger, either tothe equipment or to the personnel operating the same, by reason of thefact that the connector is in a pressure balanced condition wheninstalled and operating and further in view of the fact, that means isprovided for completely relieving pressure prior to separation of theelements forming the connector.

A slightly modified form of first connector element 57 is shown in Fig.3, in which such element may well comprise a body 58 provided with acylindrical bore 59 extending therethrough and with a threaded nipple6t} projecting from the body 58. The nipple 60 and body 58 is providedwith a fluid pressure passage 61 communicating with the bore 59 and thenipple 60 may be conveniently attached to a fitting 62 on the Christmastree of a gas or oil well or to any other fluid pres sure source and itis assumed that the fitting 62 will be provided with a suitable valve tocontrol the flow of fluid pressure through the passage 63 providedtherein. The bore 59 of the first connector element 57 shown in Fig. 3serves to receive the cylindrical extension 36 on the second connectorelement 28, as shown in Fig. 2, and the operation of this form of theinvention is identical with that described above.

If desired, the first connector element may also be combined with avalve to control flow of fluid pressure thereto and such a device isshown in Fig. 4. In this case, a first connector element 64 may wellcomprise a body 65 having a cylindrical bore 66 extending therethroughand also formed as part of the connector 64 is a valve 67 comprising avalve stem 68 threadedly rescrew threads 74 thereon for facilitatingattachment of the connector element 64 to a Christmas tree or othersource of fluid pressure. The valve stem 68 may be provided with anactuating hand wheel 75 and a conventional packing nut 76 may beprovided to prevent fluid pressure leakage around the valve stem 68. Theoperation of this form of the invention is the same as that describedabove in connection with. Fig. 2, but this form of the invention may beconveniently utilized where a valve is not already installed on theChristmas tree or other fluid pressure source.

The form of first connector element shown in Fig. 5 is substantially thesame as that described above in connection with Fig. 4, except for therelative position of the valve stem with respect to the bore 66 andnipple- 73 and consequently, the same reference numerals are utilized onthis figure and no detailed description thereof is provided since thestructure and operation thereof is obvious and this form may be utilizedinterchangeably with the form shown in Fig. 4, depending upon theparticular orientation desired of the valve wheel 75. With particularreference to Fig. 6, there is shown a somewhat modified form of theinvention in which a first connector element 77 may well comprise anelongated cylindrical portion 78 and a threaded nipple 79 for attachingthe first element 77 to a source of fluid pressure 80 having apassageway 81 therein. An annular groove 82 may be provided in thecylindrical portion 78 substantially midway of the length thereof and atransverse passage 83 extending through the cylindrical portion 78communicates with the annular groove 82. An axial passage 84communicates with the transverse passage 83 and extends through thecylindrical portion 78 and the nipple 79 for communication with thepassage 81 in the source of fluid pressure 80.

The second connector element 85 may well comprise a body 86 having anoutwardly opening cylindrical recess 87 at one end thereof of a diameterfor slidably receiving the cylindrical portion 78 of the first connectorelement 77 and a vent opening 88 may be provided at the inner end of thecylindrical recess 87 to permit the escape of fluid under pressure fromsuch recess.

A threaded bore 89 is provided in the body 86 of the second connectorelement 85 for facilitating attachment of a pressure gauge 90 or othersuitable fluid pressure device and a passage 91 in the body 86 of theconnector element 85 communicates with the bore 89 and with a transversepassage92 which in turn communicates with the cylindrical recess 87substantially midway of the length thereof. The outer end of thetransverse passage 92 may be closed by a suitable plug 93. Thetransverse passage 92 in the body 86 of the second connector element 85is substantially in alignment with the annular groove 82 in thecylindrical portion 78 of the first connector element 77 when suchconnector element is positioned in the cylindrical recess 87 of thesecond connector element 85.

A packing receiving groove 94 is provided in the wall of the cylindricalrecess 87 at one side of the transverse passage 92 and positioned in thegroove 94 is an O-ring 95 of suitable packing material. In a similarmanner, a packing receiving groove 96 is provided in the Wall of thecylindrical recess 87 at the opposite side of the transverse passage 92'and an O-ring 97 of suitable packing material is positioned in thepacking groove 96.

A transverse bore 98 is provided in the body 86 of the second connectorelement 85, there being a shoulder 99 provided in the bore 98 forretaining a valve seat 100 in place therein and the bore 98 communicateswith the atmosphere through an opening 101 which may be closed by theinner end 102 on a valve stem 103 engaging the valve seat 100. The valvestem 103 is provided with screw threads 104 threadedly engaged in thebody 86 of the connector element and a suitable finger engaging knob105, as well as packing means 106 are provided on the valve stem 103 tofacilitate manipulation thereof and prevent fluid pressure leakage fromthe transverse bore 98.

The operation of this form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is verysimilar to that described above in connection with Fig. 2, the onlydifference being that the second connector element 85 is positioned overthe cylindrical portion 78 of the first connector element 77, ratherthan providing an extension which is plugged into the connector elementas in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2. It is assumed thatthere would be a suitable valve in the fluid pressure source 80 and, ofcourse, the operation of the valve stem 103 by the finger engaging knob105 would be the same as that shown in Fig. 2. The vent passage 88 inthe body 86 serves to relieve any fluid pressure leaking by the O-ring97 in the cylindrical recess 87.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has beenprovided a simple, yet highly efficient means for permitting quickattachment of a pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device to theChristmas tree of an oil or gas well or other fluid pressure source andfor quick removal of the same, regardless of the magnitude of pressureinvolved and in this manner, one pressure gauge may be utilized forascertaining the pressure in a large number of oil or gas wells and withthe utilization of a minimum of time for attaching and disconnecting thepressure gauge. In a similar manner, other fluid pressure devices couldbe attached and removed in a similar short period of time.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A fluid pressure connector device, particularly adapted for use on oiland gas wells, comprising in combination, first and second connectormembers, said first connector member having a main body portion with atleast two oppositely disposed surfaces thereon, a cylindrical bore ofconstant diameter extending through said main body portion and open ineach of said opposite surfaces, a transverse fluid passage in said mainbody portion opening at one end into said cylindrical bore substantiallymidway the length thereof, means closing the opposite end of saidtransverse passage, said main body portion having an oifset projectionthereon extending from one of said opposite sides and co-planar withsaid cylindrical bore, a longitudinally extending passage in said offsetprojection extending from the outer end thereof and connecting with saidtransverse fluid passage, said projection having connector means at itsouter end adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure,said second connector member comprising a body having a reducedcylindrical extension projecting from one side thereof, said reducedcylindrical extension being of a diameter for slidable engagement insaid bore of said first connector member and having a shoulder at thejuncture of said cylindrical extension and body portion, saidcylindrical extension having an annular groove in its cylindricalsurface, said shoulder being eflective to align said annular groove withsaid transverse passage when said cylindrical extension is fullyreceived in said cylindrical bore, said cylindrical extension having apacking receiving groove disposed adjacent each side of said annulargroove, packing disposed in each of said packing grooves, a transversepassage in said cylindrical extension opening into said annular groove,a longitudinally extending passage in said cylindrical extensionconnecting said last-mentinned transverse passage with the side of saidbody 0P posite the side having the cylindrical extension, the outer endof said longitudinally extending passage ending in said opposite bodyside and having means therein adapted to detachably secure thereto afluid pressure measuring device or the like, a transverse bore in saidbody of said second member extending completely therethrough andcommunicating said longitudinally extending passage with the atmosphere,and a manually operable valve member in said transverse bore cooperatingwith valve seat means positioned at one side of said longitudinallyextending passage for selectively opening or closing said last-mentionedpassage to the atmosphere, said valve member extending beyond saidtransverse bore at the opposite side of said lengitudinally extendingpassage. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 143,138 Goldthwait Sept. 23, 1873 5 Fenton Mar. 27, 1888 Crane Feb. 1, 1898Adams June 19, 1923 Fesler June 9, 1925 Sartakofi Mar. 24, 1931 BuchetApr. 5, 1932 Strouf Feb. 6, 1934 McGrath Sept. 3, 1940 Donner Sept. 6,1949 Hanson Dec. 11, 1951 Blaydes Dec. 9, 1952 Seeler Dec. 4, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 23, 1953 Italy Apr. 13,1955

